Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-02-03
He,,.a,.l.nl,ie VIM.

Tue Fredercksbu Free Lance, published
by John ". Volt, contained the following
personal reference TO Colonel George ".
Carter, at ono time one Of the most
brilliant ministers in Virginia:
More than thirty years ago Rev. Leon
i2as Ro:ser then III charge of the Methodist
Church at Lynchburg, was leading revival
at Fiacaste which awakened deep inter
est in the people Of that town and for miles
around. For several weeks this eloquent
preacher had preached night and day, until
nature gave way and could no longer bear
the strain put upon it.
Zone beautiful Sabbath morning when the
old Methodist Church at Fincastle was
crowded to its utmost with peutents and
their iiiends, and the yard surrounding the
church filed with interested people, the
windows darkened with expectants, and
after the opening hymn had been sung,
chapter read and prayer delivered, Mr..
Roeser informed the immense congregation
that owing to his enfeebled condition he had
invited his colleague to fill the pulpit for
few DAYS and until he could recover his
strength A universal murmur Of disappro-
baton escaped from the mouths and hearts
of the congregation, to whom Mr.. Rosser
had become greatly endeared. Several
hundred converts were arranged on the
front seats; they too murmured dssatisfac-
tiop but the situation could not be changed.
"a young man with long flowing black
hair arose in the pulpit and approached the
altar in an awkward manner his lace was
pale with excitement, his voice sepulchral
as he took his text. He fully appreciated
the situation, but was inspired by its deli
cacy. At the conclusion of an hours ser-
mon the immense audience arose as one
man, crowded around the altar, and warm
iy grasped the hand of the young and elc-
quent minister, and with fearful eyes beseech-
ed him TO 60 on with his remarks and openly
thanked God that He had sent so capable
an assistant into their midst. The young
man was mplored 10 furnish the notes or
manuscript Of his sermon for publication.
Although boy, we distinctly remember his
reply i never take notes and never write
my sermons.
For some days the young preacher re.
mained and did effective work id the then
prolific field, and there lives to day in Bote-
tourt men and women happily converted 10
| God under the ministrations Of that theu
devoted man.
Last week we were in Washington. Ac
companying a party of friends into u
handsome drinking establishment on
Pennsylvania avenue, we were in
| troduced to mau Of tall frame and
commanding appearance, whose looks indi-
Gated that he had seen better days. His
hair was gray, his form bent with age, one
eye was blind, while his clothing and gener-
al appearance indicated hard times. The
polite manner of the stranger, contrasted
with his general appearance, struck us with
peculiar force. We asked his name. He
gave 1t 10 US.
"That man standing in the bar room was
George w. Garter, whose life has been so
varied and check cred as to begin with the
pulpit and end in q drinking saloon, we fear.
"Reauesting the party of gentlemen to
hear us, we told the circumstance that con.
pected one of the auditors with the great
revival in Fincastle Of 1858 George w.
Carter recognized the picture we drew, and,
as he gazed upon it. his memory recalled
the days-the happy days-when his life
had not been blurred by sad and eventful
association with men engaged in the demor-
alizng work of politics.
The eloquent preacher Of 1855 and the
mau before us was one and the same
George w. Carter-a man endowed by ma
ture with those rare gifts of genius which
make men great, or, when subverted, rem
der them the most pitiable of all men.
''Mr. Carter's remarkable talents and abil-
tiles enable him to live by writing speeches
on intricate subjects for members of Con-
gress, who, lacking the brain, use that pos
sessed by Carter to appear before the Coun-
try as able representatives, we'll Informed
on public questions"